The city of Barcelona has experienced an unprecedented heatwave this summer, marking a new historical record. The Fabra Observatory has counted 43 consecutive days with maximum temperatures above 30 degrees, including the last days of June.
The month of July has been the warmest ever recorded at the meteorological station, with an average temperature of 28.1 ºC, four degrees above the climatic average. This value surpasses the previous record from July 2006.
In absolute terms, this July has become the second warmest month ever observed at the Fabra, only surpassed by August 2003. Furthermore, it is the second consecutive month where the average temperature has been four degrees above the climatic average.
On July 8th, the absolute maximum temperature of 40.9 ºC was reached at the Fabra Observatory, exceeding the 40 ºC barrier for the first time less than two years after the previous record of 40 ºC registered on July 30, 2024.
Precipitation during July has been minimal, with only 3.2 liters per square meter collected, representing 11% of the monthly climatic average.
Nights have also been exceptionally warm, with a significant increase in tropical nights (minimum temperatures not dropping below 25 ºC). Data from the Raval Observatory show a drastic increase, from three such nights by July 23, 2016, to 28 this year.
Specialists link this nocturnal warming, which is more pronounced than diurnal warming, to climate change, the 'heat island effect,' and the reduction of sea breezes. Recent studies suggest that nocturnal heat is the main cause of heat-related mortality in Barcelona, especially when minimum temperatures exceed 24 ºC for three consecutive days.
